Smyrna times., 1887-12-21

Oh MOuudy AFTERNOON IN the
cemetery.
VIM. R. Cooper Again.
One day during last summer, July
18th, our citizens were astonished to
find flor he was recognized by num-
Der, though he had been away for
nearly quarter of century, William
Cooper suddenly turn up
among them. He evidently intended
to visit his old home incOgnito, depend
ing upon the general change in his APP
pearance including sprinkling of gray
in his nOticeably black hair when he
grew to manhood and departed to
wider fields, and was evidently discon-
certed at the fact of his recognition.
He only remained a little over two
hours manifested a nervous, watchful
movement to those whom he fell in
with, and departed perhaps never to
return. He was then eluding the Off
GERS who were on his scent, especially
keeping close watch on the residences
of his relatives in Philadelphia but he
eluded their vigilance and took a
steamer for Europe. He had been at
his old trick of forging, at which he
stands ahead perhaps of all other
Americans in the def art.
The Philadelphia Press, of Friday
had the following cable dispatch:
" LONDON, Dec. 15.-Among the dis
tinguished Americans who came over
to see the Jubilee was Randall Cooper,
of Philadelphia. Mr.. Cooper has won
the acquaintance of Inspector Byrnes
by his professional success and nightly
displeased many rich and affluent
Americans by hattering them in the
way of initiating their handwriting.
After flying look at the efiete mon
arches of Europe, Cooper came to
London, put his store clothes on, went
down into the city and came back with
$4,000, which several well-known
banks had given him in exchange for
his wonderfully initiative handwriting.
Cooper and female friend set out for
the continent, and the fOrgeries were
denounced at Scotland Yard. On
Monday Superintendent William
sons long arms nabbed Cooper in Paris,
just as he was putting on his store
clothes again. The $4,000 having
been spent in seeing the sights, the
French Government has agreed to his
extradition, and now Scotland Yard
wants Inspector Byrnes to favor them
with Cooper's record in America"
The subsequent day the Press repro
duced part of this record. 1t says:
Twenty-One years ago he was ar
rested here for a $4,000 forgery, and
sent to the Eastern Penitentiary fol-
five years. He was last in this city in
the latter part of October last, in hid
ing from the English police. During
that month Chief of Detectives Wood
received from Assistant Commissioner
Monro, of Scotland Yard, London, a
circular containing a wOOdcut picture
together with a description of the fugi-
tive, and the announcement that he
was wanted for forgeries amounting
to 1850. The circular described him
as being about 80 years of age, 5 feet
inches in height, $50 pounds in weight
pock-marked, hazel eyes, light com
plexion, long hair turning gray, nous
tache and beard.
" 1t was learned that he had taker
passage for Europe, but nothing more
was heard of him until his arrest il
Paris few days ago.
In the Spring of 1866, Cooper held {
minor position in the Naval Depart.
ment in Washington. He had a rela
tive who was paymaster in the same
department. In some way, presuma-
! bly, by theft, Cooper obtained posses
sion Of this relatives naval uniform
Coming to this city he registered at the
Continental Hotel under the name O
Major Robert w. Allen, then paymas
ter at this port. He persOnated Major
Allen and obtained from the Post-oficC
draft for $4,000, which had beer
forwarded to Paymaster Allen from
Washington. When he secured the
draft he induced the hotel clerk, will
whom he had become intimate, to &C
company him to the First Nationa
Bank, where he deposited the paper
Two or three days later he withdrew
the draft, forged the paymaster's nam,
and presented it at the United State
Sub-Treasury.
" 1t was necessary that he should be
identified and this was cheerfully dom
by the deceived hotel clerk. CoOpe
secured the money and went to New
York where he placed it with a SAT-
deposit company. Soon afterwards h,
went to Washington and married tn,
daughter of a prominent citizen t,
whom he had been engaged.
detective Edmund L. Schlemm
then in the employ of the First Nation
al Bank, got on the track of the forge
and was present at the marriage il
Washington. That evening the bri
dial couple reached this city en- rout
to New York When the train reached
the old depot of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, at Thirty-s9cond and Marke
Streets, Detective Solemn arrested the
bridegroom. In his possession wa
found two tickets for Europe. TIL
arrest caused considerable of a sensa
ton at the time, more on account o.
the social connection of the bride
His wife readily obtained a divorce
There was no difficulty in locating anC
recovering the money obtained on tn,
forgery. Cooper was tried in tn
United States Court of this city and or
September 6, 1866, was sentenced t
pay fine of s. and undergo an impris
onment of five years in the Eastern
| Peuitentiary. His photograph takei
at that time in the stolen uniform rep
resents a man of fine appearance. De
tective Harry Weyl, Of the Distric
Attorneys Office, has one of the photo
graphs.
"On completing his sentence Coope
went to London. In the early part o
1879 a number of forgeries for largl
sums Of money were committed il
England and finally traced TO Cooper
He had been living in princely styl
and lavishing money upon woman
who travelled with him. He was ar
rested and on October 20 of that yea
he was sentenced to FIVE years pena
servitude. On being released he re
turned to this country. He returned
to England this year IN time to attenG
the Queens Jubilee It was then thai
be committed the forgeries with which
be is now charged.
-r
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